Carl Sagan and the Human Presence on Earth

In this episode of The Sagan Series, Carl Sagan illustrates the magnificence of our presence on Earth. We humans have completely dominated the planet, but our impact on the universe is still minuscule.

Our cities disguise the natural wonder of our planet with a covering of buildings and streets. Our nomadic ancestors have been replaced by modern domestication and stagnation. In every way it seems we humans have worked for the demise of our civilization, but in between the lines of destructive progress there is beauty.

We’ve conquered epic frontiers of knowledge, ventured far into the space from which we originate, and even constructed societies that have (so far) withstood the test of time. As Sagan says, we can’t help but be impressed with ourselves when we take a look at what we’ve accomplished in such a short period of time.

To say the least, it’s a privilege to hold a membership of our species. No matter which way we choose to take this planet, good or bad, we still remain the most influential race to walk this planet. Take a second to consider the power we hold over our world. At the same time, however, it’s hard not to laugh at the cosmic ground we have yet to cover.